Freddie Roach to test Manny Pacquiao with new sparring partners
Since Bob Arum’s weekend trip to Baguio City cleared out the parade at Pacland and found Manny Pacquiao wanting, the fighter has been desperately trying to fall back into favour with his promotional boss
by training more intensely than ever.
Now trainer Freddie Roach says he wants to put Pacquiao to the test in the next two weeks. Roach told
GMA News that sparring in the next two weeks will be vital and challenging, as new partners Amir Khan and Vanes Martirosyan are added to the mix.
Pacquiao is training for his upcoming bout with Antonio Margarito, which will attract 70,000 fans to the Cowboys Stadium in Texas in what’s sure to be a historical confrontation.
Currently Pacquiao has been sparring with upcoming prospects Glen Tapia and Michael Medina. Initial sessions were closed doors, but Roach has slowly been opening up to public sessions, evaluating recently
that “Pacman” is presently at 50 per cent capacity in terms of sparring.
"It [will be] the toughest two weeks coming up," Roach confirmed. “This week and next week. Manny right now is 100 percent in the mitts, but only 50 percent in sparring. So, we'll get about 30 rounds
this week and 30 next week, and then we start tapering off. I have more sparring there, better sparring. No, not better, but more of the style I've been looking for."
After seeing Pacquiao in two separate training sessions on the weekend, Arum was hopeful. An initial session caused the famous promoter to doubt Pacquiao, saying that unless he improves his speed he is
bound to lose against the rangy Margarito.
Arum was much more pleased with a second session on Monday, saying that he sees hints of the old Manny and that he anticipates by fight time Pacquiao will be 100 per cent.
Pacquiao will be looking for his eighth world title in as many weight divisions, an unprecedented feat in boxing.
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